Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-05-07
SOMETHING ABOUT LIBERIA.
The Little Republic of Black Men oA
Africa's Coast.

The Little Republic of BLACK "eh oA
Africa's Coast.
Ispecial Correspondence
NEW YORK, April %.
The little republic of Liberia, on the "es'
coast of Africa, is now just forty years OIL
Though the beginning of the country as
civilized colony, under the efforts OF Henry
CLAW. dates back seventy one years ago. " ui.'
not assume its entire Independence until 49,
The presence now in this city OF Mrs NJ. u
G. Barboza, a daughter of H. H. Garnet tne
ate Unit,d States minister to that county
mas enabled us to collect few interesting
tacts concerning 1t.
Liberia represents n tract OF territory aoou'
800 miles in length along the coast ann "ilti'
generally speaking is about NIFTY nil'rs III
width. 1t has pleasantly diversifleu suriaee,
IS well watered and furnishes the irulls anu
products of the tropical zone. Agriculture l.
the dominating interest, and coffee sugar
cotton, rice and ginger are among the STAPLE
crops produced Milk is very scarce-the
milk of cows-and retails at twelve cents OF
more quart. Only very wealthy man can
afford to keep a COW, so that the owner OF a
COW there is as conspicuous for his love OF
luxury and ability to command 1t as the
owner of yacht is in England or America
The milk of the common or average pcope Is
drawn from goats
The people seem to be divided into two
classes-those who are civilized and possess
| citizenship and the ignorant tribes who are
wholly native. Only the former class, and
not all of that, belongs to the body polite as
it requires, among other things, the possession
of certain amount of real estate to be able
to vote. The population tcivilize,) numbers
about $4,000. Persons from the ignorant
classes are from time to time added to the
state constituency through influences of edu-
cation; but unless they are so transferred
they do not count in the census. 1t is under
stood that the very few whites who live in
Liberia are there simply for the temporary
purpose of trade. They cannot take part III
the government or gain title to land,
The houses and public buildings of Liberia
are built either Of brick or wood, and are
furnished in the way houses of that sort gener-
ally are Stoves, however, are not used but
firepaces are. with wood for fuel Among
| the forest woods of most importance ar,
ebony, rosewood and mahogany There i
also kind of redwood. A tree, the timber
of which is called birthstone wood, admits o.
a very high yellow polish. The wismore is
also remarkable tree, and there are not
wanting species of oak and pine. Dyewoods
and logwoods are numerous.
In the matter of mineral wealth, Liberia
| furnishes marble, mica and iron. The iron is
of a very superior quality.
| Mrs Barboza says that the people are
enabled to make excellent roads out of very
curious material-the mounds OF the Termite
ants, whose cells in the interior of these
mimic mountains are most wonderful con-
struction. The ants go very far down in the
| earth and bring up sand and rock for their
habitation, which they work into something
like rough bits of coral This material-for
the mounds are very numerous-can be OBJ
| tanned to any extent, and is gathered and
spread over the town streets and the road.
leading therefrom 1t makes surface equally
as good as macadam, but has the appear
ance of concrete. When the ants hills are
disturbed they abandon them.
In spite of the good roads referred to
horses are not commonly used, particularly
in the towns and on the coast. Oxen do duty
for draft, and people who travel are carried
III palankeens. The government has q good
system of schools, and churches abound. The
| republic is directly modelled after ours in its
executive. legislative and judicial features
| The president holds his Office for two years. as
the representatives do theirs, while the sena,
tors hold for four years. The president now
| N office is II. R. W johnson. He is in his
! econd toiili, and is now running a third time
! Tor the presidency, which is not a violation
| OF either the written or unwritten laws there
and which shows his popularity. The two
parties which carry on politics in Liberia are
| the Wing and the Republican. The presi
dent, who is likely to be reelected once more,
represents the Wing party. The election day
occurs early in May
| Monrovia, the headquarters of the govern
ment, and named after one of our presidents.
contains only about 1000 people A much
| larger town is Grand Bassa. Iiberia gets
along without banks, though it must be that
prominent mercantile firms do this stvle OF
business in addition to their own 1t also
thrives without our omnipresent saloon
There are lawyers there, however
| Some of the names of the natives are curi
GUS. Barfofa means "leader of his people,
Farquakwe means "a chief" aud Baikur "a
| great talker." The man who bears this name
1t Is no surprise to hear, is lawyer. The
| seasons III Liberia are not so much different
/ IRON these on Ills continent on the same $50
| tlIrnlal line They are called the dry and
! the wet seasons. The dry season lasts from
November until the third week in March.
WINE the distinct rainy season includes July
ana August There are, however, early spring
and summer rains. The government paper
| currency, which is black and white in color.
Is manufactured in England
! MIS-. barooza, who has given us these facts,
| is the principal Of the Garnet Memorial school
M Brewersvle, Liberia, which is an academy
Tor young ladies, partially endowed by the
! government. 1t has now seventy-eight pupils.
AS an indication that the cost of living can
| hot be great In this country, We observe that
soo per annum: In greenbacks or specie, will
hoard pupil for one year" in this school.
| Nor can education be expensive, when sos,
( The price OF scholarship. "pnys for eighteen
Terms, or six years, tuition.
JOEL BENTON.
/ Wis First ESperiepca With